Stringed musical instrument



March 25, 1930. c. JOHNSON 1,752,180

' STRINGED MUSICAL INSTRUMENT Filed Sept. 11, 1928 INVENTOR.Louisufliafihnson,

Patented Mar. 25, 1930 UNITED STATES LOUIS CURTIS JOHNSON, OF FAYETTE,ALABAMA STRING-ED MUSICAL INSTRUMENT Application filed September 11,1928. Serial No. 305,211.

This invention relates to a fretted, stringed musical instrument and hasfor its object to provide an instrument of such class, in a manner ashereinafter set forth for producing a fine quality of tone when playedand more particularly for enhancing the quality of'the tones produced bya mandolin or guitar.

Further objects of t 1e invention are to provide in a manner ashereinafter set forth a fretted, stringed musical instrument which issimple in its construction and arrangement, strong, durable, compact,expeditiously arranged and readily supported in position to be played,conveniently played to produce tones pleasing to the ear, pleasing inappearance, capable of being toned in a convenient manner, andinexpensive to manufacture.

With the foregoing and other objects in view the invention consists ofthe novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts ashereinafter more specifically described and illustrated in theaccompanying drawings wherein is shown an embodiment of the invention,but it is to be understood that changes, variations and modificationscan be resorted to which fall within the scope of the claims hereuntoappended.

In the drawings wherein like reference characters denote correspondingparts throughout the several views:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a musical instrument in accordance withthis invention.

Figure 2 is a side elevation thereof.

Figure 3 is a longitudinal sectional view. Figure 4 is a transversesectional View. The instrument includes a hollow body portion or box ofany suitable contour and as illustrated by way of example, is ofrectangu- 10 lar contour of the desired length and width.

The body portion is formed with a fiat bottom for seating on the legs ofthe player or upon a support when one desires to play the instrument.

The body portion is generally indicated at 5 and comprises a pair of endwalls 6, 7, a pair of side walls 8, 9, a bottom 10 and a top 11.

The side and end walls are of corresponding height and secured upon theupper face of bottom 10 adjacent the side and end edges thereof. The top11 has bevelled or curved side and end marginal portions 12, 13respectively to provide the top of the sides and ends of the bodyportion rounded. The top 11 is secured to the side and end walls andprojects laterally therefrom to align with the side and end edges of thebottom 10. The body portion provides a chamber 13 having a pair ofoutlets 1 1, 15 which are provided by spaced, aligning circular openingsof appropriate diameter formed in the top 11 and which are intersectedat the diametrical centre thereof by the longitudinal median of top 11.

Secured to the upper face of top 11, at the longitudinal median of thelatter is a sup porting bar 16 which extends from one end to the otherend of said top and has its ends oppositely bevelled as at 17, 18. Thebar 16 is of a width materially less than the diameter of and extendsacross the openings 14, 15 at the diametric center of the latter. Theheight of bar 16 is materially greater than the thickness of top 11.Secured upon the upper face of bar 16, at is a transverse bridge-piece19 cross section. Preferably the bar pieces are of wood, but it is to beunderstood that any desirable material may be employed. The outer sidefaces of the bridge pieces form continuations of the bevelled ends ofthe bar.

The preferred number of strings employee in connection with theinstrument is four, but this number can be increased if desired. Thestrings are indicated at 20, 21, 22 and 23 and are suspended over andretained normally in spaced relation with respect to bar 16 by thebridge pieces 19. The strings are disposed in parallel spaced relationand retained at such position by the bridge pieces 1 of tapered andbridge Projecting outwardly from the bevelled end 17 of bar 16 is aseries of screws or pins 24 for anchoring one end of the strings to saidend 17 of bar 16. Rotatably mounted in and projecting from the bevelledend 18 of bar 16 is a series of tuning keys 25 for the strings. Thestrings are positioned to extend against the bevelled ends 17 and 18 andouter side faces of the bridge pieces 19.

each end thereof 7 The upper face of bar 16 has secured therein a seriesof spaced transversely extending frets 26. The strings are normallyarranged in spaced relation with respect to the frets.

The front string, indicated at 20, is the note string and the remainingstrings are tuned to correspond with the first string. The coarse end ofthe music is at the end opposite the keys. The strings are held for thepurpose of obtaining the chord with the left hand, and the strings arepicked with the right hand. The music is all played on the first stringand the other strings are used to make the chord or to time the firststring with. The tone produced is better than that of a guitar ormandolin.

What I claim is:

I. A stringed musical instrument comprising a rectangular hollow bodyportion having a pair of spaced, opposed openings in the top thereof, afretted supporting bar secured upon the top, and of the same length asthe length.

of the body portion, said bar extending across said openings at thediametric center of the latter and of a width less than the diameter ofthe openings, a pair of spaced bridge pieces mounted upon the upper faceof the bar transversely of the latter, stringsanchored at one end to oneend of the bar and seating on said bridge pieces, and tuning keysconnected to the other end of the bar and to the other end of thestrings.

2. A stringed musical instrument comprising a rectangular hollow bodyportion having a pair of spaced, opposed openings in the top thereof, afretted supporting bar secured upon the top and of the same length asthe length of the body portion, said bar extending across said openingsat the diametric center of the latter and of a width less than thediameter of the openings, a pair of spaced bridge pieces mounted uponthe upper face of the bar transversely of the latter, a set of fourparallel strings anchored at one" end to one end of the bar and seatingon said bridge pieces, one of the outer of said strings constituting thenote string and upon which the music is all played and the other of thestrings making the chord, and tuning keys connected to the other end ofthe bar and to the other end of the strings.

3. A stringed musical instrument comprising a hollow body portion havinga pair of spaced, opposed openings in the top thereof, said openingsdisposed at the longitudinal median of said top, a fretted supportingbar secured upon and co-extensive with the top of the body portion,extending across said openings at the diametric center of the latter andof awidth less than the diameter of the openings, spaced bridge piecesmounted upon the upper face of the bar transversely of the latter, saidbridge pieces positioned at the ends of said bar, strings anchored atone end to one end of the bar and seating on said bridge pieces, andtuning keys connected to the other end of the bar and to the other endof the strings, said bar co-extensive with said body portion.

4. A stringed musical instrument comprising a body portion, a supportingbar secured upon the top of the latter and having its upper faceprovided with spaced transversely extending frets, a pair of spacedtransversely extending bridge pieces mounted upon the upper face ofthebar at the ends thereof, a set of four spaced parallel strings, oneconstitut-ing a note string upon which all the music is played and theother making the chord, said strings seating on said bridge pieces,means at one end of said bar for anchoring one end of the stringsthereto, and tuning keys connected to the other end of the bar and tothe other end of the strings.

In testimony whereof, I affix my signature hereto.

LOUIS CURTIS JOHNSON.

